Queen Angel - Popeye - Help

[explorer364]

I was at my local LFS 2 weeks ago and noticed that they had acquired a beautiful Queen Angel (baby). Most of the fish I own have been purchased through another distributor - however I completely loved the coloring this little one had - so I purchased it. I noticed tonight that the right eye is bulging from the socket. I don't believe it is dropsy because the body isn't swollen, I do believe she is suffering from Popeye. I have never had a fish with this before and am not sure exactly how to treat her.

I checked my water quality and everything is spot on. Can someone give me some advice on how to treat this problem?

Thanks!

 

[jaw]

I've collected a few blue and queen angels while diving. If they are brought up too fast they can sometimes devolpe eye problems but usually within a few days after collecting . I also believe bacteria and rough handleing(shipping) cause problems. If the eye appears clear and not fogged over ,I would just leave it alone, it usually clears up on it's own, if it clouds over you could try some type of medication but my experience has never been good with chemicals, better to prevent than to treat

 

[explorer364]

I just went and checked on her, the eye appears to be somewhat fogged, but not to the point that I can't see the pupil. I added some vitamin C to the water and added some garlic to the brine I am feeding her. I was going to move her to a smaller QT I have and add meds, but my experience is the same as yours with meds - not usually positive. So - I will give it a couple of days and see the course she takes. Hopefully positive.

Thanks for your opinion and experience - anyone else have any further experiences with curing this problem? I really don't want to loose her.

Thanks so much!

 

[sphelps]

I've had a few fish with Popeye, and it's usually nothing to be overly concerned about. Basically it's an infection that could have occurred if the fish scraped its eye on a rock or something. There isn't really any treatments for it, however vitamins may be a good idea, I think Vitamin B supplements are the best.

Keep and eye on her, the swelling should go down over time, and basically there will be one of two outcomes. First one will be a full recovery, the eye will be clear (unclouded) and be as good as new. The other will be blindness in the affected eye, the eye will stay clouded, however the fish can still live a long and happy life provided it still has one eye. The eye may also fall out (worst case) but again the fish can still survive. All the cases I have experienced have resulted in full recoveries.

Do not remove the fish from it's current tank, it is not contagious, moving her will just risk more damage.

Good luck.

 

[explorer364]

sphelps,

What type of recovery time am I looking at (round figure) and where did you pick up the vitamin B supplements? I completely agree with your assessment of not moving her to another tank - just added stress that is not needed.

Again Thanks!

 

[sphelps]

probably looking at about 2 weeks, I believe most saltwater treatments for fungus and infections contain large amounts of B vitamins.

 

[BLockamon]

A water change won't hurt if you haven't done one in a while.

 

[explorer364]

I perform around 10% every week and 25% on the 1st of the month.

I appreciate all of the help!!!

 

[bureau13]

Just to add a specific example to what most others have been saying...lI have a Majestic Angel that got what I believe to be popeye soon after we got it...one eye bulged out and became hazy. This lasted for several days, maybe a week, at which point it slowly returned to normal coloration, followed by shrinking down to normal size. This was about 2 months ago, and the condition has not returned. I didn't treat it, this just happened on its own.

jds